Automatic car-indicator.



J. T. BURGESS & W. OAKLEY.

\ AUTOMATIC CAR INDICATOR. APPLICATION FILED Jun/10. 191.4 RENEWED APR. 21, I916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented June 13,

4 a w Z S M W W MP m :w .3 T 3 VA IV A000 N INTERMEDMTE STATIONS THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, u. c.

l. T. BURGESS & W. OAKLEY.

AUTOMATIC CAR INDICATOR. APPLICATION FILED JULY 10. 191.4. RENEWED APR. 21. l9l6.

l 1 87,253 Patented June 13, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JAMES '1. BURGESS AND WILLIAM OAKLEY, OF KITCHENER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

AUTOMATIC GAR-INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 13, 1916-.

Application filed JuIy IO, 1914, Serial No. 850,232. Renewed April 21, 1916. Serial No. 92,762.

To all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that we, JAMES T. BURGESS and WILLIAM OAKLEY, citizens of Canada, residing at Kitchener, in the Province of British Columbia and Dominion of Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Car-Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a car indicator adapted in use to indicate a station which the car is approaching, and such other data as may be desired, the device being adapted for operation in a variety of distinct ways, so that at a predetermined time any or all of the train carried indicators may be similarly and simultaneously set.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of a series of duplicate indicators arranged at appropriate car points, with the indicators of all cars, under certain conditions, coupled for simultaneous operation, and one indicator being adapted for control by the operatorso as to set the same, and such others as may be coupled therewith for simultaneous and similar operation.

The invention in the preferred form of details will be described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section of one of the indicating cases. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig.3 is

a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view in elevation partly in section showing a modified means of operating, the alarm mechanism being omitted to' simplify the showing. Fig. 6 isa plan of the same, with the cover of the casing removed. Fig. 7 is a plan of the main drive wheel. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan of the operating disk.

In the accompanying drawings, particularly Figs. 1 to l inclusive, each car is provided with a main shaft 2 mounted at appropriate points in suitable brackets to permit communication or rotation of the shaft.

The main shaft 2 extends longitudinally of each car and cooperates with indicators 19 arranged at appropriate points preferably at opposite ends of the car. Each indicator comprises a casing 20 on which is mounted central shaft 21 having beveled gear 22 on its upper edge to be engaged by a bevel gear 23 on the main shaft 2, whereby the central shaft is rotated at each movement of the main shaft. Mounted in the case on opposite sides of the central shaft 21 are spool shafts 24 and 25, about which is coiled a strip 26 bearing the desired data, the strip being guided into proximity with the face 27 of the case through spaced guide rollers v 28 The face 27 of the case is provided with suitable openings through which data on strip becomes visible as the strip is open ated, said case face being provided with fixed data of any desired description to indicate the meaning ofthe data appearing on the strip through the openings in the face.

The diameter of the strip roll about the respective spool shafts'is continually varying and it is obvious that only one of these. shafts can be positively driven'and as I110- tion must be provided whereby either shaft. may be positively driven to feed the strip in either direction, we arrange upon the center shaft 21 a gear 29 fixed with relation to said shaft, and upon the respective spool shafts gears 30 and 31 mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on said shafts, though fixed against independent rotary movement. The respective gears 31, 30 which are designed to mesh with the main gear 29, are actuated in relatively reverse directions through the medium of the lever 32 pivotally mounted at 33 upon the collar secured upon the main shaft, the lever being suitably connected to the gears 30' and 31 and having its handle end 34- extended beyond the case. The upper surface of the gear 29 is provided with an annular row of teeth 35 adapted in the rotation of said gear to engage a pinion 36 mounted upon the end of the shaft 37, which shaft is provided with clappers 38 adapted on the rotation of the shaft to sound a bell 39 mounted upon the case. A lever 40 is mounted upon the case and adapted in operation to shift the pinion 36 into and out of mesh with the teeth whereby the bell is arranged to be sounded or held silent as desired.

In Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, we have shown a distinctive means of operating the indicators, wherein we have dispensed with all overhead operating parts, it being understood that the remaining parts of the device are to be constructed as in the previously described form. In this form, the usual casing 42 is employed, in which are arranged the shaft gears 43 and 44 operated by the main gear 45, the reversing lever 46 in this instance having clutch members 47 cooperating with clutch members 48 on the respective shaft gears, so that said shaft gears remain at all times in mesh with the main gear, but are not effectively in control of the ribbon except when the clutch parts are in connection. This form is directed particularly to providing a means for operating the main gear, for which purpose the main gear is of annular formation, having an edge row of teeth 49 adjacent the inner peripheral edge. An operating disk 50 is i mounted for free rotation within the main gear, and is provided on its under side with two pivoted dogs 51, having their outer ends formed with teeth 52 adapted to cooperate with the teeth 49 in reverse directions, that is the tooth 52 of one dog will actively engage the teeth 49 in the movement of the disk in one direction, while the tooth of the remaining dog will engage the teeth 49 to reversely operate the main gear. The dogs are weighted as at 53, so as to be normally held out of engagement with the teeth 49. The teeth of the dogs are beveled in a well understood manner so as to have a pawl and ratchet engagement with the teeth 49. A spring 54 is connected to the operating disk and to the upright hollow shaft 55 on which the parts are rotatively mounted, the spring operating to be placed under tension in the movement of the disk in either direction. An operating arm 56 is mounted for free rotation on the hollow shaft 55, said arm being of the spring type, and having a depending pin 57 adapted to extend through either of two openings 58 or 59 in the operating disk, the said openings overlying the respective dogs, and the pin being of such length that when in position in the opening it will bear upon the underlying dog and force the tooth of the same into coiiperation with the teeth 49 of the main gear. The arm 56 is provided with a projection 60 terminating in an eye 61, the projection being also connected through a flexible connection 62, to an arm 63 projecting laterally from a shifting bar 64, which extends through the hollow shaft 55 and is terminally provided with an operating handle 56. A cord 67 or the like connects all or any desired number of the indicators of the train, the cord being connected to the eye 61 of the arm 56. In the operation of this form, the pin 57 of the arm 56 is arranged in the particular opening 58 or 59 in accordance with the direction of rotation of the main gear desired. The operating disk is thus locked to the main gear by the dog, so thatthe rope may be drawn upon to the desired extent to dis play the next sign, as will be understood. Upon release of the pull upon the cord or rope, the spring 54 returns the disk to normal position, the dog freeing itself from the main gear. To reverse the travel of the ribbon, the rod 64 is elevated, withdrawing the pin. 57 from the particular iopening, whereupon through the proper turning of the rod 64, the pin 57 may be placed in the remaining hole, so that a pull upon the cord operates the main gear in the reverse direction.

ln the form of the device illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, it will be noted that provision is made for utilizing the alarm as in the form first described, the annular row of operating teeth 75 being concentric with the teeth 49.

What is claimed is 1. An indicator including similar spools mounted for rotative movement, a gear on each spool, a single means for simultaneously and reversely effecting said gears with respect to the spools, and a driven gear for both of said first-mentioned gears, whereby either spool may be positively driven at will, an annular rack on the driven gear, an alarm, an alarm actuating member arranged for cotiperation with the rack, and means for shifting said member to and from such coiiperation.

2. An indicator, a casing, a hollow shaft mounted therein, a plurality of ribbon spools mounted therein, a main gear, spool gears cotiperating therewith, an operating disk mounted for rotation on the hollow shaft and within the main gear, means for rotating said disk, dogs carried by the disk and having respectively reverse engagement with the gears and means extending through the hollow shaft and operative from below the casing for locking either dog in 006peration with the main gear.

8. An indicator, a casing, a hollow shaft mounted therein, a plurality of ribbon spools mounted therein, a main gear, spool gears cotiperating therewith, an operating disk mounted for rotation on the hollow shaft and within the main gear, means for rotating said disk, and means for locking the disk to the gear to operate the gear in either direction or movement of the disk in the corresponding direction, said means including dogs mounted on the disk and co operating with teeth formed on the gear, In testimony whereof we afiix our signathe dogs being reversely constructed to retures in presence of two witnesses.

versely engage said teeth, and means eX- JAMES T. BURGESS. tending through the hollow shaft and oper- WILLIAM OAKLEY. able from below the casing for causing WVitnesses: a

either dog selectively to cotiperate with the J. E. MILLER,

teeth. GEORGE A. HUNT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0." v 

